Past Musings

If freedom of speech is taken away, then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter. George Washington

Cuffed, laying on the ground, she screamed why are you doing this to me. This is not an obvious situation. A criminal shucking responsibility is not the case. It’s a teacher. An award-winning purveyor of education is the person being described. Hurled into a police car like a shoplifter, because she expressed a basic constitutional right; freedom of speech.

We, as a nation, pride ourselves on our ideals. We stand on the bricks of the Bill of Rights. We wave flags, protest and sing the sacred hymn of the United States; The National Anthem. How can we be an example to the world of freedom? If in a small Louisiana town, a teacher cannot express her opinion about a pay raise that her taxes help to fund.

This was an ugly situation that played out on camera. It’s an embarrassment when a public servant that offers selfless service to the community is treated like an animal. However, in the current climate, which has a bully in the White House, what do you expect. License and head nods of ok have been given to folks who think it’s appropriate to oppress that teacher’s voice.

We are at crossroads as an American people. Are we going to continue to sit idly by and swear at the newscast about bad news or are we going to do something about it? Charlottesville was a drumbeat calling us who still believe in the promise of America to act. If we don’t we will spiral into chaos and more freedoms will be trampled. I am disturbed by what occurred in Louisiana and me as an educator hope the day never comes where escorting citizens out due to speaking up never becomes as common as raindrops.